First U.S. Assembly Plant For China's Lenovo Opens In N.C.

Johana Guardado assembles a laptop on Lenovo's new personal computer production line in Whitsett, N.C.

Leoneda Inge for NPR

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Originally published on June 6, 2013 6:14 am

Chinese computer maker Lenovo celebrated the opening of its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Whitsett, N.C., on Wednesday. The company is trying to boost its brand and U.S. market share. Other high-tech firms, including Motorola, have announced plans to manufacture in the U.S.

The Lenovo plant celebration was a patriotic affair. A large sign was on display featuring the American flag and the words "Assembled in the U.S."

Gov. Pat McCrory addressed the crowd: "Manufacturing is coming back to the country, manufacturing is coming back to North Carolina, manufacturing is coming right back to Guilford County, and this is the beginning of that process. It's not going to end today, it's just starting today."

Lenovo officials say it's still cheaper to manufacture computers overseas but "speed of execution is key."

"Time kills deals," says Tom Looney, vice president and general manager for Lenovo North America. "We've got to do business the way our customers want to do business, and that's what this facility will give us — the flexibility and speed to beat our competition every day on the streets."

The assembly plant, built inside an existing fulfillment center, is located near a busy eight-lane highway. The plant will employ 115 workers to assemble notebooks and desktops, using components from overseas. Company officials say they hope to hire more workers.

"I was here 60 days ago to help launch this facility and spoke to employees, and I told them I was going to take them to their knees," Looney says. "And they actually got a little concerned about that. But I said I was going to take them to their knees with orders so that I can hire the next 115 and the next 115."

Curtis Richardson, 27, an engineering student at North Carolina A&T State University, tests the computers to make sure they work before shipping.

"I really feel that it's an opportunity for me to grow along with the company as well. That's probably what I really love about Lenovo," Richardson says.

Economic development officials are excited. Penny Whiteheart, with the Piedmont Triad Partnership, says she likes advanced manufacturing jobs because they come with salaries that can support families.

"For instance, here in the Piedmont Triad, the weekly wage for a manufacturer is almost 20 percent higher than the average for all industries," she says. "So that's why we pay particular attention to those kinds of companies when we're looking to recruit new companies to our area."

But Mike Walden, an economics professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, says manufacturing alone can't make up for the tens of thousands of jobs lost when key North Carolina industries like textiles and furniture went overseas.

"We still need to have a focus of where are going to be the big, big job gains in the state. What sectors, how are we going to employ our people and what kind of training do people need to have in order to get those better-paying jobs in the future?" Walden says.

Lenovo won't say how big it plans to scale up, but right now, its focus is supplying federal and state agencies and local school districts. And the computers coming out of this plant will have an American flag on the palm rest.

Yesterday, the Chinese computer maker Lenovo held a grand opening, yesterday, in North Carolina for its first manufacturing plant in the U.S.

As North Carolina Public Radio's Leoneda Inge was there.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER")

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (Singing) Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light.

LEONEDA INGE, BYLINE: The Lenovo plant celebration was a patriotic affair. A large sign was on display featuring the American flag and the words: Assembled in the U.S.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory addressed the audience in the spacious 240,000 square foot facility. He stood at a podium near a small crowd of newly-hired workers. In the back, stood yet more workers, in matching white work coats with a Lenovo patch.

GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY REPUBLICAN, NORTH CAROLINA: Manufacturing is coming back to the country, manufacturing is coming back to North Carolina. Manufacturing is coming right back to Guilford County, and this is the beginning of that process, and it's not going to end today, it's just starting today. Isn't that right?

(APPLAUSE)

INGE: Lenovo officials say it's still cheaper to manufacture computers overseas. But Tom Looney, vice president and general manager for Lenovo in North America, explains why they've put this plant here.

TOM LOONEY: Today, in this PC business, speed of execution is key. Time kills deals. So again, we've got do business the way our customers want to do business and that's what this facility will give us, the flexibility and speed to beat our competition everyday on the streets.

(SOUNDBITE OF HIGHWAY)

INGE: The plant is located near a busy eight lane highway - it's a road made for moving products. Lenovo put the assembly plant inside an existing fulfillment center, and it plans to hire a total of 115 workers to assemble various different ThinkPad notebooks and desk-tops, using components from overseas.

Lenovo's Tom Looney says he hopes to hire more people.

LOONEY: I was here 60 days ago to help launch this facility and spoke to employees and I told them I was going to take them to their knees. And they actually got a little concerned about that. But I said I was going to take them to their knees with orders so that I can hire the next 115 and the next 115.

INGE: Curtis Richardson is one of the new hires. The 27-year-old is an engineering student at North Carolina A&T State University. His job is to test the computers to make sure they work right before shipping.

CURTIS RICHARDSON: I really feel that it's an opportunity for me to grow, along with the company as well. That's probably what I really love about Lenovo.

INGE: Economic development officials are excited. Penny Whiteheart, with the Piedmont Triad Partnership, says she likes advanced manufacturing jobs because they come with salaries that can support families.

PENNY WHITEHEART: For instance, here in the Piedmont Triad, the weekly wage for a manufacturer is almost 20 percent higher than the average for all industries. So that's why we pay particular attention to those kinds of companies when we're looking to recruit new companies to our area.

INGE: But Mike Walden, an economics professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, says manufacturing alone can't make up for the tens of thousands of jobs lost when key North Carolina industries like textiles and furniture went overseas.

MIKE WALDEN: We still need to have a focus of where are going to be the big, big job gains in the state, what sectors, how are we going to employ our people and what kind of training do people need to have in order to get those better paying jobs in the future.

INGE: Lenovo won't say how big it plans to scale up, but right now, its focus is supplying federal and state agencies, and local school districts. And the computers coming out of this plant will have an American flag on the palm rest.